Downloads Folder Vanished

Given that you've already checked the Trash and confirmed that you didn't accidentally delete the Downloads folder, it's perplexing that it's gone missing. The fact that other folders like iCloud Drive and Documents are also affected suggests a broader issue.

One potential solution you could try is restarting your MacBook Air. Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve minor glitches or temporary issues with file visibility. After restarting, check Finder again to see if the Downloads folder reappears.

If restarting doesn't work, you might want to try resetting Finder preferences. To do this, open Finder, then click on "Finder" in the menu bar, followed by "Preferences." In the Preferences window, go to the "Sidebar" tab and ensure that the box next to "Downloads" is checked. If it's already checked, you can try unchecking and then rechecking it to see if that triggers the Downloads folder to reappear.

If neither restarting nor resetting Finder preferences resolves the issue, it's possible that there may be a more significant underlying problem with your macOS installation. In that case, reaching out to Official Apple Support or visiting an Apple Store for assistance would be advisable. They can provide more advanced troubleshooting steps or help you restore the missing Downloads folder and files.

Do you have a TM backup to use to restore the folder?